BEST 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN UDAIPUR

India is a diverse country, with diverse people, diverse religions, diverse languages, and most importantly diverse lands! Mountains in the north, desert in the west, plateau in the south and water around the three sides. Name it, and you would find that type of climate in this magnificent country. Name it, and you’ll find your favorite foreign destination right here! Want to travel to the canals of the romantic Venice, fret not, India has its very own Venice of the East, Udaipur!
With the Aravalli hills on one side and lakes dotting the map, Udaipur is one of the best holiday destinations in India. With so much to look around, following are the 10 places you must put on your list of places to visit in the City of Lakes.

1. CITY PALACE

The biggest attraction of Udaipur, the City Palace is 16^th century palace built on the banks of the serene Pichola Lake. The sprawling palace in itself houses 11 splendid palaces with wonderfully designed courtyards, pavilions, hanging gardens, terraces etc. , all inspired from Chinese, Medieval and European styles of architecture. The rooms have beautiful paintings and artefacts depicting the historical events one after the other and the significance of each room in the complex. The view of the city with pearl white buildings dotting the landscape is breathtaking! The city palace has a heritage hotel within its complex and the rest is a museum for public visit.



Location – The Palace is 21 Km from Udaipur Airport and is easily accessible by car or public transport.
Timings – 9.30 PM to 5.30 PM

2. LAKE PICHOLA

The oldest and one of the largest lakes of the city, Lake Pichola has a charm of its own which attracts tourists like no other lake.  Its magnificence is enhanced by the splendid beauty of the palaces, bathing ghats and hills, enveloping it. The lake has 4 islands within it, each with a palace of its own. The famous Lake Palace and Jag Mandir lie on this pristine beauty. A boat ride during the sunset or sunrise is mandatory to witness the real beauty hidden in the Pichola Lake.



Location – It is the bank of the City Palace and access to boat rides is from Rameshwar Ghat within the Palace complex. Entry from Lal Ghat is also possible without entering the palace complex.

3. MONSOON PALACE

Sitting atop the Aravalli Hill, is the fairy-tale castle-like Sajjangarh palace or the Monsoon Palace. This 19^th century palace was built to watch the monsoon clouds. The palace overlooks the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a reserve for neelgai, wild boars, reptiles, panthers and jackals. The best time to visit the palace is during the sunset, when this hilltop palace gazes at the splendid sunset amongst the Lake Pichola and Aravalli hills. This palace is mainly visited by tourists and photographers for this awe-inspiring scenery.



Location – The Palace is 5 Km west of Udaipur city and both cars and auto rickshaws are available for the visit.
Timings – Sunset to sunrise

4. JAG MANDIR

The lake-island palace of Jag Mandir or Lake Garden Palace is located on the pristine Lake Pichola. This palace was used by the royal family as a summer resort and for hosting parties. This yellow sandstone and marble three –storey palace, is said to have been a refuge of Shah Jahan and his family for more than a year. Other than that various europeens also had took refuge in this palace during the 1857 war.  The most tourist attracting part of the palace is the Gul Mahal which was Shah Jahan’s refuge. Other parts of the palace are the Zenana Mahal, Kunwar Pad aka Mahal, Barah Pattharo ka Mahal, beautiful courtyards and lovely gardens. A boat ride on the Lake Pichola no doubt deserves a visit to this lovely abode.



Location – Lake Pichola
Timings – 10 AM to 6 PM

5. BAGORE KI HAVELI

Overlooking the Lake Pichola by the Ganghaur Ghat, the massive palace has 138 rooms with intricate glass and mirror work, magnificent Mewari frescoes and the famous two peacocks made out of colored glass mosaics. The restored haveli has been turned into a museum depicting the aristocratic lifestyle of the mewar kingdom. The evening lightens up the haveli traditional Rajasthani cultural shows like dance and music performances. Other than various artefacts that reside in this haveli, you can also find the world’s biggest turban in one of the museum rooms!



Location – Ambapol, Lake Pichola
Timings – 10 AM to 5.30 PM

6. FATEHSAGAR LAKE

To the north of Lake Pichola, sitting peacefully is the Fateh Sagar Lake.  Flanked by mountains on its three sides and Pratap Memorial in the north, Fatehsagar is considered to be the pride of Udaipur.  The lake houses three small islands, with the largest one developed into a park called Nehru Park, the second one converted into a garden with several wonderful waterjet fountains, and the third one is now home to Udaipur Solar observatory. Thanks to the pristine blue color of the lake and the lush green hilly backdrop, it has been nicknamed as the second Kashmir of India. Speed Boating through the lake is a popular tourist attraction!



Location – 2.8 km from City Palace, the lake is easily accessible by car or public transport.
Timings – 8 AM to 4.30 PM

7. SAHELIYON KI BARI

This 18^th century ornamental garden was built for recreation of the princess’ 48 women attendants . Set by the embankment of Fatehsagar Lake, this beautiful garden has lovely lotus pools, marble elephants, sparkling fountains and kiosks. This garden is one of the most beautiful gardens of the city and is a major attraction of all the Udaipur tourist places.



Location – Saheli Marg, Udaipur
Timings – 9 AM to 7 PM

8. JAGDISH MANDIR

The largest temple in the city of lakes, Jagdish mandir is situated inside the Udaipur City Palace Complex and is known for its Indo-Aryan style of architecture. This 17^th century temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu (the Preserver) and is garlanded with beautiful carved pillars, decorated walls and ceilings. The shikhar or spire of the main temple is about 80 ft high dominating the city’s skyline! The main idol of lord Vishnu is said to be carved out of one single black stone piece. This divine abode is a great example of splendid architecture and its connection to the supreme power.

9. GULABH BAGH AND ZOO

Also known as Sajjan Niwas Garden, Gulabh Bagh is the city’s largest garden spreading over 100 acres of land. As the name suggests, the garden has an abundance of roses with innumerous varieties of it. The lovely roses and orchids and the robust trees leave the visitors soul full of tranquility.  The garden also has a small zoo and a toy train which meanders all around the land. The garden also houses a library and museum called the Victoria Hall museum which has a collection of royal artefacts, antiques and curios.
Location – to the south-east of City Palace Complex, near Lake Pichola.
Timings – 8 AM to 5.30 PM

10. SHILPGRAM

3 km west of Fatehsagar sits a one of a kind crafts village, Shilpgram. With a dusty but colorful setting, shilpgram has 26 village houses from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa. With its glittering and colorful craft exhibits, the shilpgram is also known for its extravagant traditional performances be it dance, music or theatres. The best time to visit the village is in the last 10 days of December, the time of the annual fair and is a fantastic spectacle with hundreds of artisans flanking the fair from all around the country to perform and exhibit their art.